By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
Today we commemorate Saint Cecilia, a martyr in Rome in the Diocletian era, Apostle Philemon and his wife Apphia, relative Archippus and slave Onesimus, and Saint Sozomenos in Potamia Nicosia.
Saint Philemon was dischiple of the Apostle Paul and the recipient of his epistle, one of the books of the New Testament. He lived in Colossae and was distinguished for his preaching and charity work. Next to him, fighting, were his wife Apphia and Archippus, whom Ap. Paul calls a “soldier” of Christ. Onesimus also became a soldier of Christ, having previously repented of his act to steal his master, Philemon, and then flee to Rome. Having met the Apostle of the Nations in the prison of Rome, he was indoctrinated by him and returned to Philemon, not as a slave but as a dear brother.
All four were sacrificed to spread the Holy Gospel, leaving us with mortgages on how everyone can and should lead the people he meets to salvation, starting from his family environment, applying the messages of salvation of the Holy Gospel himself.
Source: Church of Cyprus